Many locals have already been forced to leave their homes due to persistent floods over the Christmas period, their despair and anger heightened by the surge of looters targeting evacuated properties in the area.

Tim Joyce, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Group Manager based at the Lincoln Headquarters, said: “The three separate boat crews have been send overnight to a holding area in York.

“In emergencies of this scale a national coordination centre requests assistance from all fire services in the country. We got the request at 7.30pm on December 29.

“The teams are being briefed this morning in the operations room where risks are being assessed and will be deployed to the areas most in need of aid.

“They could be sent on rescue missions, defence strengthening operations or anywhere else depending on the need. They will be self-sufficient for four days.

“For us in Lincolnshire the work to provide assistance is a balancing act between the needs of other areas and our own provisions should we need to make a similar request.”

The floods have sparked major criticisms of the government’s defence plans with the prime minister having to defend against suggestions of a “north-south divide” in investment.

Tim added: “In our own area of government I feel we’re in a very fortunate position to have a team locally. We are in a strong position to deal with any risks that come Lincolnshire’s way.”